Jim Prentice: Reclaiming a piece of our history

Beneath the icy waters of Mercy Bay — nearly 1,000 kilometres above the Arctic Circle — three Canadian archaeologists and a Parks Canada officer made a remarkable and historic discovery on July 25: the wreck of the HMS Investigator, which had been lost to the world for 156 years.

When the first extraordinary underwater images of the discovery were shown on national television shortly after, Canadians responded with pride, celebrating the success of these talented young scientists, who were able to locate, document and film the remains of the British ship, the crew of which discovered the Northwest Passage in 1851.

This modern-day expedition was typically Canadian: quietly conceived and carried out on a modest budget from an unassuming cluster of 10 orange Mountain Equipment Co-op tents scattered on the rocky shore of Mercy Bay.

The team — equipped with a small sonar “fish,” a submersible robot with quirky software, a single Zodiac boat and abundant determination — was distinctly Canadian as well. The senior marine archaeologist manning the sonar was Calgary-born Ryan Harris. Alongside him were archaeologists Jonathan Moore, who hails from Kingston, Ont., and Thierry Boyer of Montreal. Also present was soft-spoken John Lucas, a Canadian of Inuit ancestry and the senior Parks Canada officer for Aulavik National Park.

This group reflects the best of today’s Canada: young, well-educated, committed and passionate about our responsibilities in the Arctic and about who we are as a country. All that was reflected in their relentless determination — and optimism — in the face of drudgery, icy water and harsh weather. (Personally, I also will remember their voracious appetites — as I saw them hunched in a wind-blown kitchen tent, wolfing down macaroni, clearly invigorated by the prospect of success.)

Their discovery happened quickly on the morning of July 25th for several reasons. Months of historical and archaeological research preceded their arrival at Mercy Bay, and they were quick to improvise and innovate when required.

By necessity, the search that morning was confined to the small portion of Mercy Bay that was not choked with pack ice. The ship, in remarkable condition, sat upright in 25 feet of water in the expected location.

With the arguable exception of the vessels from the Franklin expedition, the Investigator is the most significant shipwreck in the Canadian Arctic.

Its voyage to the Arctic began as a rescue mission. Under the leadership of Captain Robert MacClure, it set out in 1850 to find Sir John Franklin, who had vanished in 1845 while searching for the Northwest Passage. In 1851, as the Investigator rounded Banks Island from the west and approached Melville Island, the crew realized they had discovered the western entrance to the Northwest Passage — the Holy Grail of the British admiralty for over 100 years.

That, however, is where their luck ran out.

With the onset of the Arctic winter, Captain MacClure elected to sail into “The Bay of God’s Mercy,” seeking respite from the crushing pack ice. Nevertheless, the ship was entombed in Mercy Bay, forcing the crew into a harrowing fight for survival that lasted two winters. They finally abandoned the Investigator in April 1853, leaving behind the graves of three British sailors.

This uniquely Canadian undertaking represents the convergence of several strands of our history — and sovereignty — in the Arctic archipelago.

The Investigator is historically significant as the vessel credited with discovering the Northwest Passage. While the search for that Arctic route was a British rather than Canadian enterprise, it has become an inextricable part of our subsequent history in the region.

The discovery of the Investigator has anthropological merit because its presence marks the first meaningful contact between the Inuit of the western Arctic and European explorers. The Copper Inuit adapted the iron, copper and other commodities they stripped from the Investigator before it sank in 1856. Today, their descendants safeguard the spectacular Aulavik National Park on the shore of Mercy Bay.

Most importantly, however, the quest for the Investigator celebrates our Arctic heritage and speaks to the exercise of our sovereignty in the Arctic Archipelago today.

For all of these reasons, Canadians should be very proud of what this team of Parks Canada employees has been able to achieve. Our country and our bond with the North have become even stronger because of their passion and dedication.